Using internet of things and distributed ledger technology for digital circular economy enablement : the case of electronic equipment
- Nowadays, high expectations are set for a digitally enabled circular economy (CE), to enhance resource efficiency. Tracing, tracking, and storing information is most important for this. In this paper, the application of Internet of Things (IoT) and Distributed Ledger Technology (Blockchain) are hence discussed by presenting the case of professional Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) in Italy. Within the context of CE, prevention of electronic waste (WEEE) is extremely relevant as it is a fast-growing waste stream, and the products contain environmentally damaging substances as well as valuable and rare materials. The use of a proper combination of IoT and blockchain can help the producers to keep control on products until EEENowadays, high expectations are set for a digitally enabled circular economy (CE), to enhance resource efficiency. Tracing, tracking, and storing information is most important for this. In this paper, the application of Internet of Things (IoT) and Distributed Ledger Technology (Blockchain) are hence discussed by presenting the case of professional Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) in Italy. Within the context of CE, prevention of electronic waste (WEEE) is extremely relevant as it is a fast-growing waste stream, and the products contain environmentally damaging substances as well as valuable and rare materials. The use of a proper combination of IoT and blockchain can help the producers to keep control on products until EEE end-of-life, while promoting CE strategies and supporting decision-making. Based on the outcomes of five interviews conducted in 2019 to companies of the EEE sector, potential improvements in the EEE end-of-use management are discussed. After providing the definition of requirements for both the technical solution and its testing are provided, three solution variations and the related business models are created and presented, as well as considerations on their environmental and economic impacts. The study shows how digital technologies can support the appropriate and circular management of EEE products and WEEE.…
Document Type: | Peer-Reviewed Article |
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Author: | Chiara Magrini, Jana Nicolas, Holger Berg, Alberto Bellini, Enrico Paolini, Nazarena Vincenti, Luca Campadello, Alessandra Bonoli |
URN (citable link): | https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bsz:wup4-opus-77451 |
DOI (citable link): | https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094982 |
Year of Publication: | 2021 |
Language: | English |
Source Title (English): | Sustainability |
Volume: | 13 |
Issue: | 9 |
Article Number: | 4982 |
Divisions: | Kreislaufwirtschaft |
Dewey Decimal Classification: | 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften |
OpenAIRE: | OpenAIRE |
Licence: | Creative Commons - CC BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International |